Toy construction blocks and assembly



Mam??? 3%? B. R. GLUKES TOY CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS AND ASSEMBLY 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1965 5 M 0 W1. 6 mf m N m 5 March 28 196?GLUKEs TOY CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS AND ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July22, 1965 INVENTOR. Eff/104 90 6.! U/(ES'.

j M U 5 N MU; gm gr M w March 2, 197 B. R. GLUKES TOY CONSTRUCTIONBLOCKS AND ASSEMBLY Filed July 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.BEE/V4190 1?. 620K615 BY Fan 4 4, A A/0555 a GAMB/PEAL United StatesPatent 3,310,906 TOY CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS AND ASSEMBLY Bernard R. Glukes,Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Fowlel, Knobhe & Gambrell, apartnership composed of Allan R. Fowler, Louis J. Knobbe, and James B.Gambrell Filed July 22, 1965, Ser. No. 473,983 Claims. (Cl. 46-25) Thisinvention relates to toy construction devices and, more particularly, totoy blocks and links which are designed to be interconnected to create.a multitude of structural shapes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Ser. No. 295,974, filed July 18, 1963, now abandoned, and is animprovement of the construction toy disclosed in my earlier Patent No.2,406,759 which issued on Sept. 30, 1946.

While the blocks disclosed in my earlier patent have been quitesuccessful, particularly for building structures having circularpatterns and rotary joints, they do not provide the versatility of thepresent devices. Moreover, even Where those prior art blocks have beenconventionally connected, insecure connections and interference betweenadjacent parts have been encountered, particularly in attempting tointerconnect the blocks to form a large, flat, rectangular surface.

In accordance with the present invention, the older X- shaped blocks aremodified to provide a positive lock between cooperating parts of theblocks and to prevent interference betwen adjacent parts of the blockswhen they are interconnected in various new and interesting designs andconfigurations.

To provide this increased versatility, toy blocks constructed inaccordance with this invention, in addition to having parallel front andrear faces and a peripherial surface which comprises a plurality ofprojections and a plurality of recesses, include flat end surfaces onthe projections and mating flat surfaces in the recesses with which theprojections cooperate. With the improvements herein noted, the blocks ofthis invention may be assembled together by inserting a projection ofone block into a recess of another block to form a relatively snug fitwithout rotation therebetween.

This invention further includes various links and other accessoriesadapted to be used with the X-sh-aped blocks to form numerousconfigurations of two and three dimensions.

A significant feature of this invention is the ease with which youngchildren can build the blocks and accessories into an unlimited numberof creative shapes and forms without tools. The flattened rectilinearend surfaces of the projections and recesses enable the blocks to beconnected together in groups of four, for example, with their centersforming a square but without interference between adjacent arms. By thismeans, a plurality of such groups may be built up to form a large fiatrectangular surface particularly useful in combination with theaccessories included in this invention in creating buildings, bridgesand toy wheeled vehicles, which will hold firmly together until takenapart for the next project.

T 0 further stabilize the X-shaped blocks When they are interconnected,there are provided in one embodiment of this invention a series ofbosses on the arcuate sides of the projections. These bosses cooperatewith the side surfaces defining the recesses in others of the blocks tohold the projections firmly interior of the recesses.

These and other features of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy construction block designed inaccordance with this invention;

3,31,905 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 FIG. 2 is a plan view of aninterconnected group of four of the blocks illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing portions of two of the blocks andan angular link connecting them;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing portions of two of the blocks and a malelink connecting them;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing portions of two of the blocks and a femalelink connecting them;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing portions of two of the blocksconnected by an elongated tube;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a toy wheeled vehicleconstructed with blocks and links designed in accordance with thisinvention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing portions of two blocks ofa second embodiment of this invention in position to be interconnected;and

FIG. 9 is a section view through the arcuate sides of the secondembodiment illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 1, an X-shaped block 5 having the axes 4 of the arms 6perpendicular is a basic unit of the toy construction device of thepresent invention. The block has a front face 10, a parallel rear face(not shown) and a peripheral or boundary surface 7. The faces of theblock are recessed relative to the edges 8, 9 of the peripheral surface7.

Each of the four arms 6 has a projection 12 at its end. Each projection12 includes a pair of opposed, arcuate sides 14, 15 forming a circularsegment and an outer rectilinear end 16 which forms a chord of thesegment substantially perpendicular to the axis 4 of the associated arm6. A recess 13 is formed in the block midway between each adjacent pairof arms. Each recess 13 is complementary to the projections and includestwo opposed, arcuate sides 18, 19 forming a circular segment with anouter opening 20 and an inner rectilinear end 17 which forms a chord ofthe segment at an angle of about with the axes 4 of the block arms 6.Each projection 12 is joined to the adjacent recesses 13 by webs orshoulders 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the block 5 is designed to be interconnected withother identical blocks of the series by inserting a projection 12 of oneblock into a recess 13 of another with their central axes 22, 23aligned. When so connected, the rectilinear portion 16 of the projectionmates with the rectilinear portion 17 of the recess to provide a snugfit, and to prevent rocking of one block relative to the other. Further,the tips 24 of the shoulders 21 fit tightly around the neck 29 of theprojection to prevent rocking or rotary movement about the central axis22 of the connected projection.

The spacing between the tips 24 of the shoulders 21 at the opening 20 ofthe recess is less than the diameter of the projections 12. Thus, theprojection will not pass freely between the shoulder tips 24 and asecure connection is obtained when the projection is engaged in therecess. If the block is composed of relatively flexible material, theprojection may be forced into the recess by using the rounded sides 14,15 of the projection as wedges to spread the shoulder tips 24. On theother hand, if the material employed is rigid, the projection may beinserted and removed along the central axis 23 of :the recess.

The block further includes a square central bore 26 having sides 27equal in length to the diameter of the recesses 13. Thus the bore 26,like the recesses, is adapted to receive the projections 12 of otherblocks to interconnect them.

In FIG. 2 four blocks 5a, b, c, d are shown interconnected so that theircenters 25 define the four corners of a square 28. In this grouping, twoof the blocks 5b, d are rotated at 45 relative to the other two blocks5a, 0 in order to interconnect the appropriate projections 12 andrecesses 13.

In order that the projections 12b, d of the two arms 6b, d which extendtoward the center of the square 28 do not overlap or interfere with eachother in arranging the blocks in this rectangular grouping, each blockis designed so that the distance between the outer rectilinear end 16 ofthe projections and the center 25 of the block does not exceed one-halfthe length of the diagonal of the square 28 defined by the centers 25 ofthe four blocks Sa-d. If A equals the distance between the center 25 ofa block and the inner rectilinear end 17 of any of its recesses 13, andB equals the distance between the center 25 of the block and the outerrectilinear end 16 of any of its projections 12, then each side of thesquare 28 is approximately equal to A-l-B. From the Pythagoran theorem,the length of the diagonal squared equals twice the length of a sidesquared, so that:

diagonal -2(A +B) Since it is desired that 213 be no greater than thelength of the diagonal, then:

( 2(A l-B) wherei denotes less than or approximately equal to In thepreferred embodiment shown, (23) is slightly less than 2(A +B) so that avery slight gap 30 exists between the two end surfaces 161;, d and thereis no possibility of interference.

The block grouping shown in FIG. 2 particularly enhances the play valueof the blocks of this invention since it provides for the constructionof a flat structural member in a rectangular pattern. The grouping maybe expanded in area by merely adding additional blocks thereto, :thusforming large flat surfaces which may be used, for example, as thewalls, floors and roofs of toy houses and other buildings. Anotherapplication of this grouping of special significance is in forming theflat bed of a wagon or other wheeled toy vehicle by employing theelements shown in FIG. 7 and described hereinafter.

FIG. 3 illustrates a right-angle link 30 used to connect two of theblocks 5. The angle link 30 includes two elongated male portions 31, 32which are joined to each other in perpendicular relationship by a plate33. The male port-ions 31, 32 are preferably each X-shaped in section.One arm 34 is shortened to accommodate the fiattened end 17 of therecesses, so that the male portions will fit snugly in the recesses 13.Thus, two blocks may be connected at a right angle to form wall corners,column sides, roof peaks and other structures.

FIG. 4 illustrates a small male connecting link 40 used to connect twoof the blocks 5 side-by-side. This link 40 includes two oppositelyoriented projections 41, 42 each similar to the projections 12 of theblocks 5. The two projections 41, 42 of the link 40 are joined by ashort body 43 of such a length that adjacent projections 12 of twoblocks connected by the link fit closely together without overlapping orinterfering. Thus, the male links may be used to build a long string ofside-by-side blocks for fences, sidewalks, truck sideboards, and manyother uses. The male connecting link 40 may instead be inserted in therecesses 13 so as to extend perpendicular to the face of the block andconnect two blocks in face-to-face relationship, which is useful e.g. inbuilding three dimensional shapes such as animal bodies.

FIG. 5 illustrates a small female connecting link 50 used to connect twoof the blocks 5. This link 50 includes two oppositely oriented,juxtaposed recesses 51, 52, joined together at 53. Each is similar tothe recesses 13 of the block 5 and adapted to alternatively engage themale portions 31, 32 of the angle link 30, the projections 41, 42 of themale connecting link 40, or the projections 12 of the block 5 to formopen grill-work, fences, abstract designs, and other creativestructures.

FIG. 6 shows an elongated round tube 60 connecting two of the blocks.The outside diameter of the tube 60 is equal to the outside diameter ofthe projections 12, so that the tube 60, like the projections 12, may beused to connect two blocks 5 by inserting its ends in the bores 26. Thetube is made of a flexible material such as polypropylene so that it mayalso be inserted into the recesses 13 as shown in FIG. 6 by slightlyflexing a portion to form a flattened configuration 61 at itscircumference to mate with the flattened end 17 of the recess 13.Further it may be flexed sufficiently to be connected in the recesses 13with its axis extending parallel to the face 10 of the block and itssides pinched between the shoulder tips 24. The tube is useful in agreat many structures including the wheeled vehicle illustrated in FIG.7.

The toy vehicle illustrated in FIG. 7 includes at least four of theblocks 5 connected in the rectangular pattern shown in FIG. 2 to form aflat bed 71. One wheel 70 is illustrated as connected to the bed; itbeing understood that additional wheels may be attached as desired. Thewheel 70 is constructed of a block 5 snugly received in a hoop 72 whichforms the wheel rim.

The wheel 70 is rotatably mounted on an axle 73 which includes a smalldiameter tube 74 loosely received in the bore 26 of the Wheel block 5. Alarger diameter tube 60 of the type shown in FIG. 6 is snugly telescopedon each end of the small tube 74 to retain the wheel on the axle. An endof one of the larger tubes 60 is received in one recess 52 of a femaleconnector member 50, and a projection 42 of a male link 40 is receivedin the other recess 51 of the female link 50. The other projection 41 ofthe male link is snugly received in the bore 26 of one block of the bed71 to connect the wheel 70 and axle 73 to the bed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified embodiment of the blocks 5, whereineach arcuate side 14, 15 of the projections 12 includes two elongatedpairs of bosses 81, 82 each pair extending substantially from edge 8 toedge 9 of the side with a sight gap between the two bosses of each pair.One pair of bosses 81 on each side is near the outer rectilinear end 16and one pair of bosses 82 is near the shoulder 21.

As is most clearly shown in FIG. 9, the .two bosses of each pair 81, 82together have a double-tapered or V- shaped longitudinal section withthe vertex of the V pointing toward the central axis 23 of theprojection. The inner surface of the arcuate sides 18, 19 of therecesses 13 is also V-shaped, i.e. the broad V on the lefthand surfaceof side 18 in FIG. 9 having its apex opposite face 10 with the vertexpointing toward the central axis 22 of the recess.

When the projection 12 is engaged in the recess 13, the V-shape of thepairs of bosses 81, 82 conforms to the broad V of the recess sides andlocks the projection against removal in either direction perpendicularto the face 10 of the block. Thus, the projections and recesses havecooperating locking portions which are V-shaped in a plane including thecentral axis of the projection and intersecting the looking portion,i.e. the plane in which the section of FIG. 9 is taken. This embodimentof the block is particularly useful when the blocks are made of flexiblematerial so that the projections may be forced into and out of therecesses, but will strongly resist accidental disengagement whenconnected.

The block configuration of FIGS. 8 and 9 is particularly suited for theconstruction of large toy structures, since the pairs of bosses 81, 82provide a lock acting perpendicular to the faces of adjacent ones of theblocks and act in combination with the shoulder tips 24 and theflattened ends 16, 17 to provide a structure which is rigid in alldirections.

As a consequence of the improved design of the blocks embodying thisinvention, a child is able to build the construction units quiteprecisely into a relatively solid structure without the blocks tendingto flex with respect to each other and distort the structure or preventthe building of a structure which is squared up in accordance withconventional practice. The repetitive shapes and dimensions used in thedesign of the blocks and connectors permit construction of a multitudeof structures, including those utilizing large, flat, rectangularsurfaces.

Further, it will be noted that the appearance of the block is notchanged by rotating it 90", 180, 270 or 360 about its center. Thissymmetry adds flexibility to the use of the blocks by permittingconnection at various rotated positions.

The above described embodiments of this invention are intended to beexemplary and the invention should be limited only in accordance withthe following claims:

I claim: I

1. A series of identical toy construction blocks, each comprising:

(a) a first pair of opposite arms lying along a first axis;

(b) a second pair of opposite arms lying along a second axis whichintersects said first axis perpendicularly at the center of said block;

(c) a projection at the end of each arm comprising a pair of opposed,arcuate sides concentric about a central axis perpendicular to the axisof the arm to form a circular segment,

and an outer rectilinear portion at the distal end of the projectionforming a chord of said circular segment perpendicular to the axis ofthe arm;

(d) a recess formed between each adjacent pair of arms, said recessbeing proportioned to receive the projections of other blocks of saidseries to interconnect said blocks in a plurality of configurations,

each said recess comprising a pair of opposed, arcuate sides concentricabout a central axis perpendicular to the axes of the arms to form acircular segment,

an opening through the outer portion of said segment,

and a rectilinear inner portion nearest the center of the block forminga chord of said circular segment;

(c) said projections being dimensioned so that when four of said blocksare interconnected such that their centers define the corners of asquare, the projections on the inwardly disposed arms do not overlap orinterfere with each other; and,

(f) each said block being proportioned so that (2B)' ,2(A+B) whereinA=the distance between the center of the block and the inner rectilinearportion of any recess thereof, and

B=the distance between the center of the block and the outer rectilinearportion of any projection thereof.

2. A series of identical toy construction bloc-ks as defined above inclaim 1 wherein:

(a) each arcuate side of said projections includes a locking portionwhich is V-shaped in a plane including the central axis of theprojection and intersecting the locking portion; and,

(b) each arcuate side of said recesses includes a locking portion whichis V-shaped in a plane including the central axis of the recess andintersecting the locking portion of said recess for cooperating with thelocking portion of a projection received in the recess to restrain saidprojection against dislodgement in the direction of the central axis.

3. A series of identical toy construction blocks as defined above inclaim 2 wherein the projection locking portions comprise two arcuatelyspaced elongated boss means on each arcuate side of the projections.

4. A series of identical toy construction blocks as defined above inclaim 1 and further comprising:

(a) a web joining the base of each projection to the adjacent recess;and,

(b) a bore through the center of each of said blocks with its axisperpendicular to the axes of said arms, each said bore being adapted tosnugly receive the projections of the other blocks to interconnect theblocks.

5. A series of identical toy construction blocks as defined above inclaim 4 in combination with a link for connecting said blocks together,said link comprising:

(a) an elongated body; and,

(b) a projection substantially identical to said block projections ateach end of said body, said body being dimensioned so that adjacentprojections of two blocks connected by said link are juxtaposed but donot interferingly contact each other.

6. A series of identical toy construction blocks as defined above inclaim 4 in combination with a link for connecting said blocks together,said link comprising:

(a) a body; and,

(b) a recess substantially identical to said block recesses at each endof said body, said two recesses being juxtaposed and oppositelyoriented.

7. A series of identical toy construction blocks as defined above inclaim 4 in combination with a link for connecting said blocks together,said link having two elongate male members with their longitudinal axesat a right angle relative to each other, each of said male membersincluding four arms defining an X-shaped cross-sectional con figurationwith one arm shorter than the other three, said male member beingadapted to be received in the recesses of the blocks to interconnect twoblocks at right angles to each other.

8. A series of identical toy construction blocks as defined above inclaim 4 in combination with:

(a) an elongated tube adapted to interconnect said blocks, each end ofsaid tube being adapted to fit snugly interior of said bore and saidrecesses; and

(b) a cylindrical hoop circumscribing the projections of one of saidblocks to form a wheel.

9. A toy wheeled-vehicle having a fiat body surface comprising:

(a) four identical blocks interconnected to form a substantially flatsurface, each said block comprising (b) parallel front and rear faces, acentral bore, and a peripheral surface, said peripheral surface defining(c) four arms of equal length spaced from each other (d) a projection atthe end of each arm, each said projection including an outer rectilinearend surface and opposed arcuate side surfaces;

(e) a recess midway between each adjacent pair of arms, each said recessincluding an inner rectilinear end surface and opposed arcuate sidesurfaces;

(f) said blocks being interconnected by appropriate ones of saidprojections being snugly received in appropriate ones of said recessesto form a flat surface with the centers of the blocks defining thecorners of a square and with two of said arms extending toward thecenter of said square;

(g) the distance from the center of each block to the outer rectilinearend surface of its projections being such that the pair of end surfacesnear the center of said square are slightly spaced one from the other;

(h) at least one connecting member extending downward from said blocks;

(i) an axle attached to said connecting member below said blocks; and,

(j) a wheel mounted on said axle for rotation relative to said blocks.

10. A series of identical toy construction blocks, each comprising:

(a) a first pair of opposite arms lying along a first axis;

(b) a second pair of opposite arms lying along a second axis whichintersects said first axis perpendic ularly at the center of said block;

(c) a projection at the end of each arm comprising a pair of opposedsides and an outer rectilinear por tion at the distal end of theprojection;

(d) a recess formed between each adjacent pair of arms, said recessbeing proportioned to receive the projections of other blocks of saidseries to interconnect said blocks in a plurality of configurations,each said recess comprising a pair of opposed sides,

an opening through the outer portion of said segment,

and a rectilinear inner portion nearest the center of the block;

(e) said projections being dimensioned so that when four of said blocksare interconnected such that their centers define the corners of asquare, the projections on the inwardly disposed arms do not overlap orinterfere with each other; and,

(f) each said block being proportioned so that (2B) ,2,(A+B) whereinA=the distance between the center of the block and the inner rectilinearportion of any recess thereof, and

B=the distance between the center of the block and the outer rectilinearportion of any projection thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 174,950 6/1955 Frishberg 4623 817,174 4/1906 Jones 28756 X 2,218,175 10/1940 Mack4629 2,388,297 11/ 1945 Slaughter. 2,406,759 9/ 1946 Glukes 46252,625,769 1/1953 Hubbard 46-17 2,756,325 7/ 1956 Zwick 4625 X 2,786,3013/ 1957 Torricelli 46--25 2,940,211 6/1960 Kelley 4617 3,032,919 5/1962Arnsler 4617 X FOREIGN PATENTS 553,254 6/ 1932 Germany.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

1. A SERIES OF IDENTICAL TOY CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS, EACH COMPRISING: (A) AFIRST PAIR OF OPPOSITE ARMS LYING ALONG A FIRST AXIS; (B) A SECOND PAIROF OPPOSITE ARMS LYING ALONG A SECOND AXIS WHICH INTERSECTS SAID FIRSTPERPENDICULARLY AT THE CENTER OF SAID BLOCKS; (C) A PROJECTION AT THEEND OF EACH ARM COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED, ARCUATE SIDES CONCENTRICABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE ARM TO FORM ACIRCULAR SEGMENT, AND AN OUTER RECTILINEAR PORTION AT THE DISTAL END OFTHE PROJECTION FORMING A CHORD OF SAID CIRCULAR SEGMENT PERPENDICULAR TOTHE AXIS OF THE ARM; (D) A RECESS FORMED BETWEEN EACH ADJACENT PAIR OFARMS, SAID RECESS BEING PROPORTIONED TO RECEIVE THE PROJECTIONS OF OTHERBLOCKS OF SAID SERIES TO INTERCONNECT SAID BLOCKS IN A PLURALITY OFCONFIGURATIONS, EACH SAID RECESS COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED, ARCUATESIDES CONCENTRIC ABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXES OF THEARMS TO FORM A CIRCULAR SEGMENT, AN OPENING THROUGH THE OUTER PORTION OFSAID SEGMENT, AND A RECTILINEAR INNER PORTION NEAREST THE CENTER OF THEBLOCK FORMING A CHORD OF SAID CIRCULAR SEGMENT; (E) SAID PROJECTIONSBEING DIMENSIONED SO THAT WHEN FOUR OF SAID BLOCKS ARE INTERCONNECTEDSUCH THAT THEIR CENTERS DEFINE THE CORNERS OF A SQUARE, THE PROJECTIONSON THE INWARDLY DISPOSED ARMS DO NOT OVERLAP OR INTERFERE WITH EACHOTHER; AND, (F) EACH SAID BLOCK BEING PROPORTIONED SO THAT (2B)2$2(A+B)2WHEREIN A=THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTER OF THE BLOCK AND THE INNERRECTILINEAR PORTION OF ANY RECESS THEREOF, AND B=THE DISTANCE BETWEENTHE CENTER OF THE BLOCK AND THE OTHER RECTILINEAR PORTION OF ANYPROJECTION THEREOF.
 9. A TOY WHEELED-VEHICLE HAVING A FLAT BODY SURFACECOMPRISING: (A) FOUR IDENTICAL BLOCKS INTERCONNECTED TO FORM ASUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SURFACE, EACH SAID BLOCK COMPRISING (B) PARALLELFRONT AND REAR FACES, A CENTRAL BORE, AND A PERIPHERAL SURFACE, SAIDPERIPHERAL SURFACE DEFINING (C) FOUR ARMS OF EQUAL LENGTH SPACED FROMEACH OTHER BY 90*; (D) A PROJECTION AT THE END OF EACH ARM, EACH SAIDPROJECTION INCLUDING AN OUTER RECTILINEAR END SURFACE AND OPPOSEDARCUATE SIDE SURFACES; (E) A RECESS MIDWAY BETWEEN EACH ADJACENT PAIR OFARMS, EACH SAID RECESS INCLUDING AN INNER RECTILINEAR END SURFACE ANDOPPOSED ARCUATE SIDE SURFACES; (F) SAID BLOCKS BEING INTERCONNECTED BYAPPROPRIATE ONES OF SAID PROJECTIONS BEING SNUGLY RECEIVED IN APROPRIATEONES OF SAID RECESSES TO FORM A FLAT SURFACE WITH THE CENTERS OF THEBLOCKS DEFINING THE CORNERS OF A SQUARE AND WITH TWO OF SAID ARMSEXTENDING TOWARD THE CENTER OF SAID SQUARE; (G) THE DISTANCE FROM THECENTER OF EACH BLOCK TO THE OUTER RECTILINEAR END SURFACE OF ITSPROJECTIONS BEING SUCH THAT THE PAIR OF END SURFACES NEAR THE CENTER OFSAID SQUARE ARE SLIGHTLY SPACED ONE FROM THE OTHER; (H) AT LEAST ONECONNECTING MEMBER EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM SAID BLOCKS; (I) AN AXLEATTACHED TO SAID CONNECTING MEMBER BELOW SAID BLOCKS; AND, (J) A WHEELMOUNTED ON SAID AXLE FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID BLOCKS.